This is what prescription drug addiction can lead to, the judge said: a respected substitute teacher breaking into suburban homes at the end of the school day and, ultimately, winding up in prison.

"That is the insidious, pernicious nature of the whole drug scene -- that it leads to this," said Muskegon County Circuit Judge William C. Marietti as he imposed sentence on Tamara Lynne Poole of Grand Haven.

Poole, 38, of 1618 S. Despelder was sentenced Tuesday to two to 15 years in prison for second-degree home invasion and a concurrent one year for attempted second-degree home invasion in a separate case. Poole received credit for 111 days already served in jail. She pleaded guilty as charged in both cases May 13.

Marietti declared he had no objection to Department of Corrections boot camp if the department finds Poole eligible. That could shorten her prison time.

The minimum sentence was much shorter than the four-year cap Marietti had committed to at the time of Poole's plea. The judge attributed the reduction to a flood of supportive letters he had received and evidence that, since her arrest, Poole has been actively pursuing recovery from the addiction that led her to the break-ins.

Poole was arrested after two break-ins Feb. 20 at Norton Shores homes not far from Mona Shores High School. Police said Poole stopped at homes in the Lake Harbor Road neighborhood south of Seminole Road.

She was under surveillance because she already was a suspect in other home invasions. The day of her arrest, she had been working as a substitute teaching a science class at Mona Shores.

When Poole left the school around 3 p.m., a police surveillance team followed her. Police said they saw her going down side streets off Lake Harbor. Police saw her enter one house in the 4200 block of Lake Harbor by a back door, then leave soon after. She was arrested after police saw her try to enter a home on Laurel Street.

Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague earlier said Poole admitted she was addicted to prescription drugs -- the painkillers Ultram and tramadol -- and that she had been going up to houses to see if doors were unlocked in hopes of getting prescription drugs.

Poole did not speak in court Tuesday.

Marietti stressed to her that her actions rose above the level of mere drug possession, which he called a "victimless crime."

"You have taken victims," Marietti said. "We can't tolerate in this community this type of behavior. This is a terrifying activity ... to have someone in their home. That's their space....

"You have so much to offer, and that's just what's so tragic about the whole drug scene," Marietti said.